New York Attorney General Letitia James is suing the Intermountain ski business for buying its competitor, Toggenburg Mountain, then shutting it down to direct skiers to its own mountains. 

James says she also ended an illegal agreement between the owner of Greek Peak and Intermountain that prohibited Greek Peak from competing with Intermountain or hiring any of its employees. 

According a news release announcing the actions on Friday, October 21 the Democrat said the two filings were to “stop unlawful and monopolistic business practices by ski resort operators in Central New York." 

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In the statement, the Office of the Attorney General says the owner of Greek Peak Mountain, John Meier reached an agreement with the O.A.G. and is required to pay $195,000 to the state and will cooperate in the litigation against Intermountain. 

James says the dealings by Intermountain not only hurt workers who were denied job opportunities nearby, but would drive up prices for consumers. 

The Attorney General’s office says Greek Peak Mountain operator John Meier sold Toggenburg in the Syracuse area in August of last year to its main competitor.  Intermountain owns and operates Labrador and Song Mountains.   

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The lawsuit alleges that Intermountain’s partners: Peter Harris and Richard Sykes’ only reason for buying Toggenburg was to shut out the competition and that was made clear when it immediately closed the slopes and announced they would not reopen for the upcoming season.  The Attorney General’s Office says, to further shut out any future competition, Toggenburg’s new owner built into the deed a restriction barring any future buyers from using the property ever again as a ski resort. 

James’ office says Meier was paid $195,000 for the no-poach provision that prohibited from hiring any Toggenburg staff from janitors to ski-lift operators. 

James says her office is seeking to require Intermountain to sell one of its resorts, pay customers for added expense to move to Intermountain properties and pay civil penalties. 

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